Example systems and methods of managing product genealogy data across distributed systems are described. In one implementation, a method identifies a material associated with a product that is part of a product batch. Usage information associated with the material is accessed, and a handling unit associated with the product batch is identified. Delivery information associated with the product batch is also accessed. A genealogy is generated for the product batch based on the material, the usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information.
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1. A method comprising: identifying a material associated with a product, the product being part of a product batch; accessing usage information associated with the material; identifying a handling unit associated with the product batch; accessing delivery information associated with the product batch; and generating, using one or more processors, a genealogy for the product batch based on links between the material, the usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information.
A method for tracking product history involves identifying a raw material used in a manufactured product, where the product is part of a batch. The method accesses data about how the raw material was used during manufacturing. It identifies the container or handling unit that the product batch was stored in or transported with. Delivery information for the product batch is accessed. Finally, a product genealogy is created which links the raw material, its usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information together, to provide a complete history.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a plurality of serial numbers associated with the product batch.
The product genealogy tracking method, as described above, also involves identifying serial numbers associated with the manufactured product batch. This allows for tracing individual items within the batch.
3. The method of claim 2 , the generating of the genealogy further based on the plurality of serial numbers associated with the product batch.
The product genealogy generation, which links raw materials, usage information, handling units, and delivery information, also incorporates serial numbers associated with the manufactured product batch. This enriches the genealogy with finer-grained tracking data.
4. The method of claim 1 , the material comprising an ingredient used to manufacture the product.
In the product genealogy tracking method, the identified raw material is an ingredient used in the manufacture of the final product. This focuses the genealogy on components directly contributing to the product's composition.
5. The method of claim 1 , the generating of the genealogy including creating the links between the material, the usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information.
Generating the product genealogy, linking raw materials, usage information, handling units, and delivery information, specifically involves establishing direct connections or associations between these data points. This creates a network representing the product's journey.
6. The method of claim 1 , the generating of the genealogy including creating a data model integrating definitions of the material, handling unit, and delivery information.
Generating the product genealogy, linking raw materials, usage information, handling units, and delivery information, involves creating a data model that defines the structure and relationships between the raw material, the handling unit, and the delivery information. This provides a structured representation of the product's lineage.
7. The method of claim 1 , the usage information being accessed from a first system associated with a first entity and the delivery information being accessed from a second system associated with a second entity.
In the product genealogy tracking method, usage information is accessed from a first system associated with the manufacturer. Delivery information is accessed from a second, separate system associated with a shipping or distribution entity. This describes a distributed data gathering process across multiple organizations.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the genealogy for the product batch to a user.
The product genealogy tracking method, which links raw materials, usage information, handling units, and delivery information, also includes displaying the generated genealogy for the product batch to a user, providing a visual representation of the product's history.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a portion of the genealogy for the product batch to a user based on search criteria received from the user.
The product genealogy tracking method, which links raw materials, usage information, handling units, and delivery information, also includes displaying a specific portion of the generated genealogy to a user based on search criteria entered by the user. This allows users to filter and focus on relevant aspects of the product's history.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: identifying a first batch identifier associated with the material; and identifying a second batch identifier associated with the product batch.
The product genealogy tracking method, which links raw materials, usage information, handling units, and delivery information, also involves identifying a first batch identifier associated with the raw material and a second, distinct batch identifier associated with the finished product batch. This allows linking of upstream material batches to downstream product batches.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising creating a link between the first batch identifier and the second batch identifier.
The product genealogy tracking method, which identifies batch identifiers for raw materials and finished product batches, further involves creating a link or association between the raw material batch ID and the finished product batch ID, establishing a direct relationship between the two.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: identifying a plurality of materials associated with a product, the product being part of a product batch; accessing usage information associated with the plurality of materials; identifying a handling unit associated with the product batch; accessing delivery information associated with the product batch; and generating a genealogy for the product batch based on links between the plurality of materials, the usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information.
A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium tracks product genealogy. The program identifies multiple raw materials used in a manufactured product batch. It accesses usage details for those raw materials, identifies the handling unit associated with the product batch, and retrieves delivery data. Finally, it constructs a product genealogy by linking the raw materials, usage details, handling unit, and delivery data together.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , further comprising instructions that cause the machine to perform operations comprising identifying a plurality of serial numbers associated with the product batch.
The computer program for tracking product genealogy, which links raw materials, usage details, handling units, and delivery data, also identifies serial numbers associated with the manufactured product batch, enabling tracking of individual products within the batch.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , the generating of the genealogy further based on the plurality of serial numbers associated with the product batch.
The computer program's genealogy generation, which links raw materials, usage details, handling units, and delivery data, further incorporates serial numbers associated with the manufactured product batch to enhance tracking granularity.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , further comprising instructions that cause the machine to perform operations comprising: identifying a first batch identifier associated with one of the plurality of materials; and identifying a second batch identifier associated with the product batch.
The computer program for tracking product genealogy, which links raw materials, usage details, handling units, and delivery data, also identifies a batch identifier associated with one of the raw materials and a second, distinct batch identifier associated with the finished product batch.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions that cause the machine to perform operations comprising creating a link between the first batch identifier and the second batch identifier.
The computer program for tracking product genealogy, which identifies batch identifiers for raw materials and finished product batches, further creates a link between the raw material batch ID and the finished product batch ID, establishing a direct relationship between the two.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , the generating of the genealogy including creating the links between the plurality of materials, the usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information.
The computer program's genealogy generation, which links raw materials, usage details, handling units, and delivery data, performs the linking by creating direct connections or associations between these different pieces of information.
18. A system comprising: at least one processor; and modules comprising instructions that are executable by the at least one processor, the modules comprising: a monitoring module to identify a material associated with a product batch, access usage information associated with the material, identify a handling unit associated with the product batch, and access delivery information associated with the product batch; and a genealogy manager to generate a genealogy for the product batch based on links between the material, the usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information.
A system for managing product genealogy data includes a processor. A monitoring module identifies a raw material used in a product batch, retrieves usage information for that material, identifies the handling unit used for the product batch, and retrieves delivery information. A genealogy manager then generates a product genealogy by creating links between the raw material, usage information, handling unit, and delivery information.
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a link manager to create links between the material, the usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information.
The product genealogy system, comprising a monitoring module for identifying data and a genealogy manager for building links, also includes a link manager module, specifically responsible for creating the links between the raw material, its usage information, the handling unit, and the delivery information within the genealogy.
20. The system of claim 18 , the monitoring module further to identify a plurality of serial numbers associated with the product batch.
The product genealogy system, which includes a monitoring module for identifying data and a genealogy manager, extends the monitoring module's functionality to also identify serial numbers associated with the product batch. This allows the system to track individual product units within the batch.
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December 30, 2011
September 10, 2013
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